Anti-fascists prepare to fight far-right candidates
Monday 08 October 2012
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EmailAnti-fascist campaigners are gearing up to take on far-right candidates in elections for leadership of local police forces.
The main threat is expected to come from the British Freedom Party (BFP) - a neofascist party linked to the English Defence League.
Their candidate for police commissioner in Bedfordshire is English Defence League deputy leader Kevin Carroll.
Anti-fascists fear an exceptionally low turnout in the election - probably around 10 per cent - that could give the BFP an opportunity to exploit the law and order issue.
Nick Lowles of the Hope Not Hate campaign said ensuring Carroll is "heavily defeated" is a priority this autumn.
They are also concentrating on beating the British National Party who are fielding three candidates in three parliamentary by-elections.
Although the British National Party has declined dramatically since it was wiped out in the 2010 elections in Barking and Dagenham, campaigners aren't taking any chances.
"We have brought the BNP to its knees and begun to blunt the impact of the EDL. Unfortunately there is still more to do," Mr Lowles said.
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